Prayers for Studying

Let the spirits look upon our work this spiritual season- and all the seasons henceforth- and grant that these humble beginnings will produce plentiful knowledge and faith ... Let us not waiver from this task before us.

Blessed are You, Adonai, King of the universe, who has instilled within each of your creations a bright and curious mind. I pray that you grant me understanding, eloquence, and comprehension so that I may learn and obtain knowledge. Do not allow fear or confusion to close my mind to new intellectual discoveries. And when I fall victim to the belief that I have learned all there is to know, remind me that great mysteries still remain within your World; keep my mind open to learning, even in my final days.

Blessed are you, Adonai, Sovereign of All, who has chosen the nation of Israel from amongst all of the nations of the world, blessed us with your Torah, and sanctified us with your Commandments; you who has commanded us to study the words of your Torah, and given us the mind to create amongst us the Midrash ... I pray that you sweeten their words within my mouth and mind as I engage with their beauty for my own spiritual sake.

Blessed are you, Adonai, Sovereign of the Universe, who has created me with logic and reason, and sense enough not to argue when it will not benefit me.